Stuart Prior
Dr Stuart Prior
HND (Bournemouth), BA, MA, PhD (Bristol), AIFA
Senior Teaching Fellow in Archaeological PracticeDepartment of Archaeology and Anthropology |
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Background
Stuart Prior initially gained an HND in Practical Field Archaeology at Bournemouth University and for nine years worked as a professional archaeologist in contract archaeology. He went on to obtain a BA in Archaeology and an MA in Landscape Archaeology at the University of Bristol, and subsequently attained a PhD. Stuart joined the Department as a Teaching Fellow in August 2004, and secured his position as Lecturer in Archaeological Practice in May 2006. Stuart is a corporate member of the Institute of Field Archaeologists (AIFA) and a member of the Council for British Archaeology (CBA).
Teaching & Administrative Responsibilities
Stuart is Head of Education for the Department, whilst in terms of teaching, he is primarily responsible for the management and provision of teaching in professional practice and vocational archaeology, and delivers much of the Department’s practical training. At undergraduate level, Stuart directs and teaches undergraduate units on pre and post excavation techniques, and delivers specialist units on the archaeology of Early Medieval Britain & Ireland. His postgraduate sessions include training in geophysical and earthwork surveying, standing building archaeology and recording, archaeological research skills, data collection and report writing, methods and techniques in landscape archaeology, and heritage management. Stuart also supervises several postgraduate research students, who are studying for MLitt/PhD’s in ‘Material Culture of the Celtic West in the Post-Roman Period’; ‘Late Antiquity in Somerset’; ‘Evidence of Viking Occupation of the SW of England’; and ‘The use of GIS and Historical Data’.
Research Interests
Early Medieval & Norman Archaeology; The Archaeology of the Anarchy; Landscape Archaeology; Castle Studies & Medieval Warfare; Ancient & Historical Technology; Experimental Archaeology.
Current Research Activities
The Berkeley Castle Project
Stuart is Co-Director of the Berkeley Castle Project, a long-term archaeological research project which was established in 2005, that conducts annual fieldwork at Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire. The project’s objective is to build up a detailed picture of the history and archaeology of the castle and the associated settlement of Berkeley, and the focus for the project can be described as ‘Mynster, Manor & Town’. The project aims to achieve its objective by synthesising the results of fieldwork with the considerable body of documentary evidence held in the archives of Berkeley Castle. Work so far has revealed a 13th century ‘designed castle landscape’ complete with fishponds and watercourses, the remains of a 12th century hospital, the location and layout of an early Saxon river port, and most impressively the boundaries of an Anglo-Saxon mynster enclosure. Excavations have recorded two sections of the mynster’s vallum (boundary ditch), the more substantial of which contained numerous sherds of late Saxon pottery, part of a rare Saxon millstone, and 10th century Saxon coins. The pottery assemblage, which dates from the late 9th to early 11th century, is believed to pre-date the Saxon pottery sequences at both Bristol and Bath, and is the only pottery of its date so far found in southern Gloucestershire. More recent excavations undertaken in Nelme’s Paddock and the Edward Jenner Museum Garden have begun to reveal buildings of Anglo-Saxon date, presumably conterminous with the mynster, along with numerous later medieval structures. The project is adding much to our knowledge and understanding of the early medieval period, and the subsequent changes in landscape and society with the coming of the Normans.
The Archaeology of Anarchy
One of the darkest chapters in English history occurred between 1139 and 1153 AD, during the reign of the country’s last Norman king, Stephen of Blois; a usurper who seized the throne of Matilda, Countess of Anjou, his cousin and rightful heir. The Anarchy is a tangled and difficult period in England’s history, little studied and largely misunderstood, but its effects were long lasting and significant, and its archaeological impact substantial. Stuart is currently researching this period and its archaeology for a forthcoming publication on the subject.
Experimental Archaeology & Archaeotoxophily
Stuart also has interests in Ancient & Historical Technology, and is particularly keen to advance the discipline of Experimental Archaeology and promote its value as a useful tool for study and research. He has undertaken several experimental archaeology projects, especially in the field of ‘Archaeotoxophily’: the archaeological study of ancient archery. Using the tools, technologies and materials available to the indigenous population at the time, Stuart recreated working replicas of the Neolithic Meare Heath Bow and Mesolithic Holmegaard bow, which proved to be extremely sophisticated weapons, that challenged previous interpretations and notions about the past.
Publications & Reports
- 2010. ‘The Meare Heath Bow Reconstruction’. Digital Digging (online publication): http://www.digitaldigging.co.uk/features/meare-heath-bow/archaeology-meare-heath-bow-01.html
- 2009. ‘In Search of Vikings in South-West England’ (with Roberts T. & Twinn, P.). Early Medieval Enquiries. CAC Journal, vol.2, 103-24.
- 2009. ‘Berkeley, Gloucestershire: Royal Mynster or Antiquarian Folly?’ (with Silversides, R.). Early Medieval Enquiries. CAC Journal, vol.2, 124-40.
- 2009. ‘Garden of a Modern Prometheus - Fyne Court, Somerset’ (with Mowl, T.). Garden History, vol.37, no.1.
- 2006. A Few Well-Positioned Castles: the Norman art of war. Stroud: Tempus.
- 2006. ‘Strategy, Symbolism and the Down-Right Unusual: The Archaeology of Three Somerset Castles’. People & Places: Essays in Honour of Mick Aston. Oxford: Oxbow.
- 2004. ‘Castle Cary Castle – Context and Background’. In: Leach, P. & Ellis, P., ‘Roman & Medieval Remains at Manor Farm, Castle Cary, 1998-2001’, Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeology and Natural History Society, vol.147, 80-128.
- 2000. ‘The Skill of the Neolithic Bowyers - Reassessing the past through Experimental Archaeology’. Somerset Archaeology, 19-24. Webster, C.J. (ed.), Taunton: SCC.
- 2000. ‘Recreating the Neolithic Meare Heath Bow - Reassessing the past through Experimental Archaeology’. Journal of the Society of Archer-Antiquaries, vol.43, 44-48.
Conference Papers
- April 2010. Castle Building in Somerset. Castle Studies Group Conference (keynote speaker), Taunton, Somerset.
- November 2009. Mons Acutus: Strategic Fortification, Royal Residence or Symbol of Dominion? NT Castles in the Landscape Conference, Montacute House, Somerset.
- April 2009. Panel Convenor. Ruins: perception, reception and reality (P19); ‘Anthropological and Archaeological Imaginations: past, present and future’: Association of Social Anthropologists (ASA09). University of Bristol.
- December 2004. Strategy, Symbolism and the Down-Right Unusual: The Archaeology of Three Somerset Castles. People & Places: Conference in Honour of Mick Aston’s Retirement. University of Bristol.
- March 2002. Television Archaeology – is the jury still out? Archaeology in the Public Domain Conference. University of Sheffield.
- December 2001. Montacute Motte & Bailey Castle – Strategic or Symbolic? Paper presented in ‘Castles’ session at Theoretical Archaeology Group (TAG) Conference 2001, University College Dublin.
- October 1999. The Skill of the Neolithic Bowyers – reassessing the past through Experimental Archaeology. Somerset Archaeology: Conference to mark 150 years of the Somerset Archaeology and Natural History Society. Dillington House, Dillington, Somerset.
Television
- June 2010. Archaeologist/Interviewee on Digging for Britain. 360 Production, 12 Great Portland St., London.
- April 2009. Archaeologist/Interviewee on Mystery Files. Parthenon Entertainment, Chorleywood, Hertfordshire.
- April 2007 to March 2008. Presenter of ‘The Perfect Weapon’. Southern Star Entertainment UK PLC, 47 Marylebone Lane, London.
- August 2003 to March 2006. Archaeologist/Interviewee on How The West Was Made. Available Light Productions, Clifton, Bristol.
- July 2005. Archaeologist on Time Team’s Big Roman Dig. Wildfire Television, 49 Goldhawk Road, London.
- 1999 to 2004. Archaeologist on Time Team (Series 6, 8, 9, 10 & 11). Video Text Communications, Shepherd’s Bush, London.
- November 2003. Archaeologist/Interviewee on Lost Buildings of Britain. Darlow Smithson Productions Ltd, 33 Greenwood Place, Kentish Town, London.
- October 2002. Archaeologist/Interviewee on The Seven Ages of Britain. Wildfire Television, Barb Mews, London.
- May 2002. Archaeologist/Interviewee on Time Flyers. BBC Scotland, Queen Margaret Drive, Glasgow, Scotland.
- February 2002. Archaeologist/Interviewee on Castle. Lion Television, Ravenscourt Park, London.
- July 2001. Archaeologist/Interviewee on Sacred Sites (Series 2). Available Light Productions, Clifton, Bristol.